Tubular scaffolding with locking pegs



Dec. 2, 1969 a. BEZIAT 3,481,095

TUBULAR SCAFFOLDING WITH LOCKING PEGS Filed Jan. 15, 1968 4 She ets-Sheet 1 Dec. 2, 1969 B. BEZIAT 3,481,095

TUBULAR SCAFFOLDING WITH LOCKING PEGS Filed Jan. 15, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet z 69 B. BEZIAT 3,481,095

TUBULAR SCAFFOLDING WITH LOCKING PEGS Filed Jan. 15, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 2, 1969 B. BEZIAT TUBULAR SCAFFOLDING WITH LOCKING PEGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 15. 1968 United States Patent 3,481,095 TUBULAR SCAFFOLDING WITH LOCKING PEGS Bernard Beziat, Carrieres-sur-Seine, France, assignor to Societe Nouvelle des Echafaudages Tubulaires Mills, Paris, France Filed Jan. 15, 1968, Ser. No. 697,946 Claims priority, applic9atio r71 France, Feb. 3, 1967,

3,6 8 Int. Cl. E04g 7/20 US. Cl. 52-638 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE 14 Claims This invention relates to scaffolding consisting of assembled elements of which some at least are tubular, the securing, to any one tubular element at least, of at least' one other tubular or non-tubular element being effected by means of a peg, hereinafter termed a locking peg, capable of extending right through said tubular element and said other element via mutually registering holes formed in the said elements.

The invention relates more specifically to tubular scaffolding of this kind, further comprising vertical uprights designed to be cross-braced by diagonal members, hereinafter referred to as diagonals, and/or by horizontal members, hereinafter termed stringers, the said diagonals and/ or stringers being joined to the prefabricated frames by locking pegs.

It is the object of the present invention to provide scaffolding of the kind hereinbefore described that permits easier and speedier erection and safer assembly by means of fixing pegs.

Scaffolding according to the present invention is principally characterized by the fact that:

An abutment member is associated to the tubular element to be fixed to the other element, which abutment member is formed with at least one outwardly extending abutment surface in the region of the securing area, which is spaced laterally from the tubular element whereby to leave a clear gap between said tubular element and said abutment surface,

Near its head, the fixing peg is formed with a transversely extending locking catch which is so shaped that, in a certain angular position of the peg, termed the insertion position, it is possible for the peg to be thrust fully home into the registering holes through which it is required to pass in order to effect assembly, and, in a different angular position of the peg when same is fully home in said holes, known as the locking position, said locking catch be engaged into the gap between the body of the tubular element and the abutment surface, thereby preventing the peg from becoming disengaged owing to an axial shift thereof,

And the fixing peg comprises an eccentric weight the angular position of which is such that it urges said peg to move angularly from its insertion position into its locking position.

In one form of embodiment of scaffolding according to this invention, the abutment member is a flange fixed to the tubular element and having two turned-down parts forming two abutment surfaces, the two turned-down parts "ice being poistioned level with the registering holes through which the fixing peg must be inserted.

In an alternative form of embodiment of scaffolding according to this invention, the abutment member is a channel-section positioned so that its web is horizontal and its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the axis of the registering holes through which the fixing peg must be inserted. The interior faces of the channel-section flanges form two abutment surfaces and the channel-section is secured to the tubular element by an axially restrained stud which passes through the channel-section web and cooperates by engagement with the tubular element, the axial abutment on said stud bearing against the top face of the channel-section web and said stud being formed with holes therein through which the fixing peg extends when the stud is in position.

In yet another form of embodiment of scaffolding according to this invention, the abutment member is an I-section positioned so that its web is horizontal and its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the axis of the registering holes through which the fixing peg must be inserted. The lower portions of the inside faces of the I-section flanges form two lower abutment surfaces adapted to cooperate with a fixing peg used to effect assembly with a lower tubular element, while the upper parts of the inside faces of said flanges form two upper abutment surfaces adapted to cooperate with a fixing peg used to effect assembly with an upper tubular element, the said I-section being secured between the two tubular elements by a double-ended gudgeon which extends through the I-section web and forms socket-joints with the two tubular elements respectively, said double-ended gudgeon embodying holes through which the fixing pegs pass when it is in position.

In cases where the abutment member is a channel-section or an I-section, it extends between at least two consecutive prefabricated frames so as to form a stringer.

The description which follows with reference to the accompanying non-limitative exemplary drawings will give a clear understanding of how the invention can be carried into practice.

In the drawings:

FIGURES 1 to 3 are respectively front, side and underneath views of a first embodiment of a pegged assembling arrangement for interconnecting flat-ended diagonals and a tubular prefabricated-frame upright in tubular scaffolding according to this invention, the fixing peg being shown in its locking position in the drawings;

FIGURE 4 shows in corresponding fashion to FIG- URE 1 the assembling arrangement referred to, the fixing peg being shown in its insertion position;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a pegged assembly for uniting a fiat-ended diagonal and a tubular prefabricated-frame upright in scaffolding according to the invention;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of yet another embodiment of a pegged assembly for interconnecting the corresponding two uprights of two prefabricated frames in scaffolding according to the invention; and

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective View of a complete tubular scaffolding according to the present invention.

In the description which follows it will be assumed, by way of example, that it is proposed to erect a tubular scaffolding comprising, in addition to other structural components, prefabricated frames with vertical uprights adapted to be cross-braced by diagonals and/or stringers, the fastening means being fixing pegs 4 as shown in FIG- URES 1 through 7 and the prefabricated frames being tubular lateral uprights 1, with the two lateral uprights of any one frame being interconnected by usually welded rigid elements.

Preferably, and as will be assumed hereinafter, the diagonals 2 for cross-bracing the frames consist of tubes or sectional shapes having preferably rounded and flattened ends.

Scaffolding according to the present invention, as illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 7, is accordingly principally characterized in that An abutment member 3 is associated to the tubular upright 1 to be secured to another element and is formed with at least one outwardly extending abutment surface 3a in the region of the fixing zone, which is spaced laterally from tubular upright 1 whereby to leave a clear gap or open space E between tubular upright 1 and abutment surface 3a;

The fixing peg 4 is formed adjacent its head with a transversely extending locking catch 5 so shaped that, in a certain angular position of peg 4 termed the insertion position, said locking peg 4 be engaged fully home into the aforementioned registering holes (see FIGURE 4),

and, in another angular position of peg 4 termed the locking position in which the peg is engaged fully home thus into said holes (shown in FIGURES 1 to 3), the said locking catch 5 be itself engaged into the gap E between the body of tubular upright 1 and abutment surface 3a, thereby preventing locking peg 4 from becoming disengaged owing to an axial shift thereof (FIGURE 4); and

Fixing peg 4 comprises an eccentric weight 4a the angular position of which is such that the weight 4a urges fixing peg 4 to move angularly from its insertion position to its locking position.

Preferably, locking catch 5 of fixing peg 4 is of rectangular shape and eccentric weight 4a is shaped as a handle extending transversely to one side of the peg axis and parallel with the longer sides of locking catch 5.

This obviates any tendency for peg 4 to shift accidentally from its locking position to its insertion position since its locking position will be one of stable equilibrium provided that the locking action is performed by lowering the handle 4a.

Consideration will now be given to various possible forms of embodiment and modes of application of the invention.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 to 5, it will be assumed for exemplary purposes that the elements to be secured to the prefabricated frames are the diagonals 2.

In this particular instance the perforated ends of each diagonal 2 will require to be so devised (notably in respect f the positions of the holes formed at each end thereof) that, once the diagonal 2 has been positioned,

its end adjacent tubular upright 1 engages into gap E and is consequently restrained by abutment surface 3a (FIG- URES 1 and 2).

Preferably, as shown in FIGURES 1 to 4, two diametrically opposed abutment surfaces 3a are provided, in which case the latter may consist of downwardly-turned ta-bs integral with abutment member 3, which member consists of a flange made fast, by welding for example, with the end of tubular upright 1.

In this particular embodiment it will be advantageous to cause locking catch 5 and the flat ends of diagonals 2 to have substantially the same thickness, and further to adopt, as the spacing between each abutment surface 3a and the body of tubular upright 1, a value somewhat greater than twice the identical thickness imparted to the ends of diagonals 2 and the locking catch 5.

It is possible in this way to engage into each gap E two elements of said identical thickness, and more particularly two diagonals 2, or one diagonal 2 and a locking catch 5.

Not only does this method of securing the flat ends of the diagonals 2 to the tubular uprights 1 offer reliability and simplicity, but it lends itself in addition to a wide variety of possible assemblies, notably by virtue of the fact that the peg can be inserted from either end, that is to say with its handle on one side of tubular upright 1 or with its handle on the opposite side thereof.

FIGURES 1 to 4 illustrate an example in which three diagonals 2 are fixed to the end of tubular upright 1, with two of these diagonals 2 being positioned on one side of tubular upright 1 and the other diagonal 2 and the locking catch 5 on the opposite side thereof.

Should it be required to make fast only two diagonals 2, the latter would be positioned on the same side of upright 1 and the fixing peg 4 would be inserted so that lock ing catch 5 was located on the opposite side, a shim (not shown) being in that case threaded over the peg on the same side as locking catch 5.

Were it required to secure only one diagonal 2, it would be preferable to insert fixing peg 4 so that locking catch 5 is on the same side as said diagonal 2 and consequently comes to bear against the latter, as in the case of the diagonal 2 shown on the left-hand side of FIG- URE 1.

As FIGURE 5 shows, it would alternatively be possible for the two abutment surfaces 3a to be formed by the inside faces of the flanges of a channel-section 31 which is positioned so that its web is horizontal and its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the axis of the registering holes into which fixing peg 4 must be inserted, said channel-section 31 being secured to tubular element 1 by a gudgeon 40 which has an axial abutment 41 formed thereon and extends through the web of channel-section 31 whereby to be spigoted into tubular element 1, the axial abutment 41 of gudgeon 40 being in pressure contact with the upper surface of the web of channelsection 31.

Preferably, gudgeon 40 is formed with a hole 42 therein, or with two aligned holes if it is tubular, through which fixing peg 4 extends once the gudgeon 40 is in position.

Reference is next had to FIGURE 6 for an exemplary showing in which the elements to be fixed to the prefabricated frames are themselves prefabricated frames, which consequently involves making fast with each other two coaxially superimposed tubular lateral uprights 1.

In this particular instance, it will be advantageous to provide four abutment surfaces 3a, to wit:

Two lower abutment surfaces formed by the lower parts of the inside faces of the flanges of an I-section 32 positioned so that its web is horizontal and its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the axis of the registering holes through which fixing peg 4 must be inserted, said two lower abutment surfaces being adapted to cooperate with a fixing peg 4 designed to permit assembly with a lower tubular lateral upright 1; and

Two upper surfaces formed by the upper portions of the inside faces of the flanges of said I-section 32, said tWo upper abutment surfaces being designed to cooperate with a fixing peg 4 intended to permit assembly with an upper tubular lateral upright 1.

The I-section 32 is accordingly fixed between the two tubular lateral uprights 1 by means of a double'ended gudgeon 50 extending through the web of I-section 32 and cooperating with the two tubular lateral rights 1 to form socket-joints therewith.

Preferably, double-ended gudgeon 50 is formed with an axial abutment 51 thereon which bears against the upper face of the web of I-section 32.

Preferably also, double-ended gudgeon 50 embodies two holes 52, or four holes aligned in pairs if it is of tubular shape, which holes have a fixing peg or pegs 4 extending therethrough after double-ended gudgeon 50 has been placed in position.

Double-ended gudgeon 50 embodying its holes 52, the holes formed in tubular lateral uprights 1, and the fixing pegs 4, are devised in such manner, notably in respect of size, that the upper tubular lateral upright 1 bears against the lower tubular lateral upright 1 through the medium of the web of I-section 32.

Regarding gudgeon 40 or double-ended gudgeon 50, it is to be noted that same are preferably fabricated from a tubular element formed, over a portion only of its length, with two diametrically opposed flats 43 (in the case of gudgeon 40) or 53 (in the case of double-ended gudgeon 50), which flats determine abutments 41 and 51 on gudgeon 40 and double-ended gudgeon 50, respectively.

This being so, the openings for receiving gudgeon 40 or double-ended gudgeon 50, formed respectively in the web of channel-section 31 or of I-section 32, will be substantially as shown at 31a and 32a respectively, the sections of which correspond respectively to those of the flattened ends of gudgeons 40 or double-ended gudgeons Such an arrangement makes it possible to locate the gudgeons 40 or the double-ended gudgeons 50 in relation to channel-section 31 or I-section 32 and in relation to the relevant tubular lateral uprights 1.

Referring lastly to FIGURE 7, it has been assumed thereon that the elements to be fixed to the prefabricated frames are:

other prefabricated frames, diagonals, and stringers,

so that FIGURE 7 shows a complete scaffolding erected from prefabricated frames which form trusses vertically and separate levels horizontally.

FIGURE 7, in which like parts to those in FIG- URE 6 are designated by like reference numerals, also shows a preferred arrangement according to thisinvention, in which the sectional shape (and I-section, say) extends across a plurality of consecutive prefabricated frames so as to form a stringer 60.

Attention is furthermore drawn to the novel construction of the scaffolding shown in FIGURE 7, which scaffolding is characterized in that,

Only certain of the prefabricated frames in any given level are interconnected by diagonals 2 of identical length assembled to the prefabricated frames by fixing pegs 4, the trusses interconnected thus and hereinafter termed principal trusses A being disposed at equal distances from one another and the trusses formed by the other frames (i.e. those not interconnected by diagonals) being hereinafter termed intermediate trusses B,

And all the prefabricated frames in any given level are interconnected by stringers 60 consisting of I-sections 32 the webs of which are formed with a plurality of evenly spaced openings 32a therein, these stringers being assembled to the prefabricated frames by fixing pegs 4 and double-ended gudgeons 50 forming socketjoints with the tubular lateral uprights 1 of two superimposed prefabricated frames,

Whereby it is possible to dispose, within any given span across two principal trusses A, a variable number of intermediate trusses B which is chosen according to the nature of the duty performed by the scaffolding in that particular span.

In an alternative embodiment of the scaffolding (not shown), the stringers 60 may consist of channel-sections 31 the webs of which are formed with a plurality of evenly spaced openings 31a therein, these stringers 60 being assembled to the prefabricated frames by fixing pegs 4 and gudgeons 40 forming socket-joints with the tubular lateral uprights 1 of the upper prefabricated fame.

It will readily be appreciated that, irrespective of the form of embodiment adopted, the scaffolding according to the present invention offers a number of advantages, outstanding among which are the following:

The scaffolding can be erected very rapidly since all its component parts are joined together by pegging exclusively;

The scaffolding offers a high level safety regardless of the conditions under which it is used (particularly in respect of vibration) since the resting position of equilibrium of the fixing pegs is also their locked position;

The basic components from which the scaffolding is constructed are simple, easy to fabricate, and comparatively inexpensive and can be transported and stocked in a minimum of space;

The personnel used to errect the scaffolding need no special tools, so that unskilled labor can be used.

What I claim is:

1. A pegged tubular scaffolding comprising an assembly of elements; said elements comprising at least one tubular element including openings therein and at least one further element having at least one opening therein for registering with said openings in said tubular element, means for affixing said tubular element to said further element comprising a peg member extending through the mutually registering openings in said elements, and abutment means associated with said at least one tubular element including a member extending outwardly of said tubular element adjacent the area in which said tubular element is affixed to said further element and spaced laterally from said tubular element to form a space therebetween,

said peg member comprising a locking member extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of said peg member for locking said peg member against axial disengagement from said elements, said locking member in the locking position thereof being positioned in the space between said abutment member and said tubular element, said locking member permitting inserting of said peg member into said registering openings when said locking member is positioned in an insertion position outside of said space, and movement of said locking member between the locking and insertion positions thereof being a function of the angular position of said peg member,

said peg member further comprising an eccentric member located on said peg member for urging, through the weight of said eccentric member, said peg member into an angular position wherein said locking member is in the locking position thereof.

2. Scaffolding according to claim 1 wherein said locking member is of rectangular shape and wherein said eccentric weight forms a handle on said peg member, said handle extending transversely to the longitudinal axes of said peg member and parallel to the longer sides of said locking member.

3. Scaffolding according to claim 1 wherein said assembly of elements comprises a plurality of said tubular elements and plurality of said further elements, said tubular elements being arranged in an upright position and said further elements forming diagonals therebetween, at least one end portion of each diagonal including at least one opening therein, the end portions of each of said diagonals which contain said at least one opening being positioned adjacent the tubular elements within the space between the tubular elements and the abutment member and being restrained by the surface of said abutment member.

4. Scaffolding according to claim 3 wherein said abutment means comprises a body portion flange-welded to a corresponding tubular element and a pair of diametrically opposed abutment members, said abutment members comprising first and second downwardly bent tabs integral with said body portion, said abutment members being spaced laterally from said tubular member to form first and second spaces therebetween.

5. Scaffolding according to claim 4 wherein said diagonals include flat end portions the thicknesses of which are substantially equal to the thickness of the locking member, the space between each abutment member and the corresponding tubular element being slightly greater than twice the equal thickness of said locking member and said flat diagonal end portions.

6. Scaffolding according to claim 5 wherein three diagonals are affixed to one of said tubular elements, two of said three diagonals being positioned in said first space between said abutment members and said tubular elements and the third said diagonal being positioned in said second space between said abutment members and said tubular element, said locking member being likewise positioned in said second space.

7. Scaffolding according to claim wherein two diagonals are fixed to one of said tubular elements, said two diagonals being positioned into said first space and said locking member being positioned in said second space.

8; Scaifolding according to claim 5 wherein one diagonal is fixed to one of said tubular elements, said diagonal being fixed in the first of said spaces and said locking member also being positioned in the first of said spaces.

9. Scaffolding according to claim 1 wherein said abutment member comprises a channel-section comprising a web and first and second flanges, the web of said channel section being horizontal and the longitudinal axis of said section being perpendicular to the axes of the mutually registering openings through which said peg member is inserted, the inside faces of the flanges of said channel-section forming first and second abutment surfaces, said scaffolding further comprising a gudgeon for fixing said channel-section to a corresponding tubular element, said gudgeon including an axial abutment formed thereon and extending through the web of said channel-section to form a socket-joint with the corresponding tubular element, the said axial abutment formed on said gudgeon bearing against the upper face of the web of said channel-section, said gudgeon further including openings therein through which said peg member extends.

10. Scaffolding according to claim 9 wherein said gudgeon comprises a tubular member including first and second diametrically opposed abutment-defining flat surfaces extending over a portion of the length of said tubular member.

11. Scaffolding according to claim 9 wherein said assembly of elements comprises a plurality of prefabricated frames, said channel-sections extending across at least two adjacent prefabricated frames to form stringers.

12. Scaffolding according to claim 1 wherein said abutment means comprises an I-section including a web and first and second flanges, the longitudinal axis of said I- section being perpendicular to the axis of the mutually registering openings through which the peg member is inserted and the web of said I-section being horizontal, lower portions of the inside faces of the flanges of said I-section forming first and second lower abutment surfaces and upper portions of the inside faces of the flanges of said I-section forming first and second upper abutment surfaces, said scaffolding further comprising a doubleended gudgeon for fixing said I-section between upper and lower tubular elements, said gudgeon extending through the web of said I-section and cooperating with the respective upper and lower tubular elements to form socket joints therewith, said double-ended gudgeon including openings formed therein for receiving first and second of said locking members, said upper and lower tubular elements each including openings therein registering with said openings in said double-ended gudgeon for receiving corresponding peg members, said openings in said upper and lower tubular elements and in said double ended gudgeon being positioned such that the upper surface of said lower tubular element bears against the lower surface of the web of said I-section and the lower surface of said upper tubular element bears against the upper surface of said web.

13. Scafiolding according to claim 12 wherein said double ended gudgeon includes an axial abutment formed thereon for abutting against the upper surface of the web of said I-section.

14. Scaffolding according to claim 12 wherein said assembly of elements comprises a plurality of prefabricated frames, diagonals and stringers, said prefabricated frames forming trusses in a vertical direction and forming individual levels in a horizontal direction, selective of said prefabricated frames in each of said levels being connected by diagonals of equal length to form principal trusses disposed at equal distances from one another, said diagonals being assembled to said prefabricated frames by peg members, unconnected of said prefabricated frames forming intermediate trusses, and all of said prefabricated frames in any given level being interconnected by stringers, said stringers comprising I-sections including Webs, the webs of said I-sections including a plurality of evenly spaced openings therein, said stringers being assembled to said prefabricated frames by peg members and by double-ended gudgeons forming socket joints with the corresponding upright tubular elements of two superimposed adjacent prefabricated frames.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 748,136 12/1903 Youmans 52-638 1,627,177 5/1927 Henningsen 182-178 1,714,044 5/1929 Pedersen 182-187 2,613,114 10/1952 Hagan 52-638 3,082,433 3/1963 Leonard 182-178 3,321,222 5/1967 Buncher 287-535 3,345,655 10/1967 Juculano 287-535 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner I US. Cl. X.R. 

